I haven't posted my dead end search for several years so thought I would refresh: William L. LEE I am searching for William L. LEE, b. 12 Feb 1847, GA, d. 2 Mar 1915 in AL. I have not found him in the 1850 or 1860 Census but he shows up in Lee Co, AL as an orphan 1868 (See Minor Appointment of Guardian and marriage next day by father-in-law, below. The court house record that contains the original application is missing, both from Lee and Macon Co, AL Court houses. Lee Co, AL was created from this part of Macon Co, AL December 5, 1866.+Russell, Chambers and Tallapoosa counties.)

Five (5) generations of this LEE family are all buried in the Pierce Chapel Church Cemetery, about 4 miles west of Opelika, AL in Lee Co., AL. It is also the small country church where my wife and I were married, 1 Mar 1958.

My wife's name is Betty Jeanelle (LEE) POPE. We have been married 47 years. Her father was Charles Edward (C. E.) LEE, Jr., b. 14 Jul 1917 in Lee Co, AL and d. 17 Sep 1984. He is buried in Pierce Chapel Church Cemetery. C. E. LEE m. Elizabeth Louise (BAKER) LEE, 15 Apr 1937 in Opelika, AL. Elizabeth was b. 13 Mar 1919 and still lives in the home she lived in when she and C. E. were married.

C. E. LEE's father was Charles Edward (Eddie) LEE, Sr., b. 1880 in Lee Co., AL and d. 1933. He is buried in Pierce Chapel Church Cemetery by the side of his wife, Martha Ann Eugenia FOLSOM. (Eddie, Sr. and his brother Marion LEE married sisters, Marion m. Mary Tercy FOLSOM.)

C. E. LEE Sr.'s father was William L. LEE, b. 12 Feb 1847, GAd. 30 Apr 1915. He is buried in Pierce Chapel Church Cemetery by the side of his wife, Winnie ELKINS, b. 22 Mar 1850, d. 12 Jun 1905. Winnie ELKINS is the daughter of Samuel ELKINS, b. SC 1819, d. AL before 1860 and Emily (??), b. abt 1820, SC d. after 1880, AL. Family members say that after Samuel ELKINS died, Emily ELKINS married David ELKINS, b. abt 1810, Richland Co, SC, who became a Baptist Minister, and preached in the Uchee Grove Baptist Church, Russell Co, AL. Samuel and David ELKINS may have been sons of John ELKINS, b. abt 1789, Camden District, Fairfield Co, SC. ------------------- Minutes of Record of Probate, Lee Co, AL (Ledger of Probate) William Lee, a minor over Fourteen} Probate Court Grant of Letters of Guardianship} December 9th 1868 This day comes David Elkins and files his petition in writing and under oath praying that he may be duly appointed to the Guardianship of the person and estate of said minor and among other things setting forth in his petition that he reside in the state. Said minor is over the age of Fourteen Years and reside in this county and that said minor is entitled to property in his own right of the value of about the sum of NO Dollars And that said minor appearance in open court and voluntarily made choice that said David Elkins be appointed to be his Guardian. It is ordered and decreed (???) that letters of Guardianship over the person and estate of the said William Lee be granted to said David Elkins upon his entering into bond with sufficient security in the amount of one hundred Dollars and the said David Elkins having executed such Bond with as his security therein and duly filed the same in the office of the Judge of this court. It is ordered that the same be appointed and that said letter do forthwith issure to the said David Elkins. It is further ordered that said application be recorded. --------------------------------------------- ? pg. 242, item 60: Lee Co, AL TrialDocket, March 1867 through February 23, 1871, Containing 783 Pages and 543 Entries. pg. 60, William LEE Minor Appointment of Guardian of his Person pg 61Probate Court December 9th 1868 This day came David ELKINS and filed his application in writing and under oath asking to be appointed Guardian of the person of William LEE a minor over the age of fourteen and the said William LEE appeared in open court and made choice of the said ELKINS as his guardian. it is therefore ordered that letters of Guardianship do issue forthwith to the said ELKINS over the person of the Wm LEE. ---------------------------------------------- 10 Dec 1868William LEE married Winnie ELKINS, Lee Co, ALby W. M. CappsBk. 1 p. 187. On the day following David Elkins being appointed the Guardianship of William LEE, William LEE married Winnie ELKIN's, David ELKINS stepdaughter. I assume William had to have a Guardian to sign for him. William was born 12 Feb 1849-1851. Some later Census records have William as born in Georgia, some in Alabama. ----------------------------------------------- The Deed below was purchased on the same day as the marriage, 1 day after William LEE’s adoption at age 17 years. ---------------- The original home place for William L. LEE and Winnie A. ELKINS was on 80 acres, situated about 9 miles due South of Opelika, AL. Off Marvin Highway, AL 51. Lee County Road 043 runs through the North quarter of the 80 acres. From Opelika, left (east) on Lee Rd 043 about 1/4th mile. Road is about 1 1/2 miles in length and dead ends into Lee Rd 042. (W 1/2 of SE 1/4 of Section 30, Township 18, Range 27.) On 10 Jan 1861, (transcribed Land Deed below) Emily ELKINS purchased 80 acres from James M. DARDEN & Matilda DARDEN, his wife, for $200. The property was in Russell County, Alabama. In 1866, Lee County, Alabama was formed and the property is now in Lee County, Alabama. Samuel ELKINS, Emily's 1st husband died around 1851. The 1860 Census shows her living with a younger husband, David ELKINS (he 25, she 40) in the Watoola Community of Russell Co, Alabama, south of this property about 3-4 miles. I have not determined why Emily purchased the property without David ELKINS. On 10 Dec 1868, William L. LEE married Winne A. ELKINS, daughter of Emily and Samuel ELKINS. The day before, David ELKINS signed papers to adopt William L. LEE (an orphan under 14 years of age-he was 17 years old) and then signed papers as his guardian and the father of Winnie A. ELKINS (20 years old). On the same day, 10 Dec 1868, Willam LEE, purchased the 80 acres from J. C. SANDERS, Prudence A. SANDERS, and Emily ELKINS for $150. Emily ELKINS reserved the house she lived in and 3 acres during her lifetime. Emily died after Feb 1889.) (I have been unable to find how the property purchased by Emily ELKINS became property of Emily, Prudence, her older daughter and husband, John Calvin Sanders.) On 12 Jun 1905 Winney A. ELKINS LEE died. On 13 Dec 1913, William LEE sold the 80 acres to his son, Charles Edward 'Eddie' LEE for $900. William L. LEE died 30 Apr 1915. On 12 Nov 1925, C. E. LEE sold the 80 acres to S. L. FIELDS for $1,050. ------- Land Deed, Book A5, Pg 287-288, State of Alabama, Lee County: Know all men by These Presents, That we, J. C. SANDERS and wife Prudence A. SANDERS and Emily ELKINS of said County and State the Grantors, executing this conveyance, for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred and fifty Dollars to said Grantors in hand, said Wm Lee of said County and State Grantee in this conveyance, the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged, have this day bargained, sold, infeoffed, conveyed and do by these presents, bargain, sell infeoff and convey to said Grantee the following described tract or parcel of land to-wit: The West half of the South East Quarter of Section (30) Thirty, Township Eighteen (18) Range Twenty seven (27) - The said Emily ELKINS reserves the house that she now lives in, and three (3) acres of land during her life time, situated, lying and being in the County of Lee and State of Alabama, to have and to hold unto the said Grantee his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever in Fee Simple and said Grantors are seized in the fee of the afore granted premises and has the right to sell and convey the same, and said Grantor does hereby warrant the title of the afore granted premises, and agrees to defend the same from the lawful claims of all persons whatever. In testimony of all of which, the said Grantors hereunto set our hand and seal this 30th day of January, 1889. Attest. J. C. Sanders Prudence X A. SANDERS Emily X ELKINS (Note: On Prudence and Emily, the X shows "her mark") Certified by John Holland, J. P., 30th day of January, 1889, as known to him. Certified by John Holland, J. P., 30th day of January, 1889, that Prudence A. SANDERS was the wife of J. C. SANDERS and was examined separate from the husband that she acknowledge that she signed the conveyance of her own free will and accord and without fear, constraint or thereats on the part of her husband. Received and recorded on the 12th day of February, 1889 and duly recorded in Record of Deeds, Vol. A-5, Page 287 on the 13th day of February, 1889. W. C. Robinson, Judge of Probate